A very un-Sixer like move

[Yenohb]

Traded 2 2nd round picks for Journeyman PG Ish Smith and waived Tony Wroten whom the Sixers have invested 3000+ NBA minutes. Is this the Colangelo effect?

[slamtheking]

it's a bit interesting.  they had Ish previously if I recall correctly and I've always thought Wroten was a low-quality player even though a handful of pro-sixer/tank people thought he was a terrific asset.

a sideways move if anything.

[BitterJim]

I like the Ish Smith move, I don't know if Wroten is the guy I would have waived, though

[MBunge]

The Sixers do have a ridiculous amount of 1st rounders coming up, so it's not like they're desperate for more picks but this clearly is a sign the Hinkie hyper tank is over.

I went over to Liberty Ballers and what's fascinating is that this trade really illustrates how far gone some of those folks are.  On the one side there are people genuinely excited to have a 27-year-old below average journeyman back on the team because he's one of the better players they've had recently.  On the other side are people outraged they gave up two 2nds because they think those picks could turn into more guys like Richaun Holmes and Christian Wood, players who are fringe rotation pieces at best for a team that is on pace to be the worst in the history of American professional sports.

Mike

[hwangjini_1]

this shows that the path chosen to date needed amending. the tank-tastic plan was not producing what the owner wanted and he is making changes. the days of being as crapilicous as possible are coming to and end for philly, i think.

how do you develop players such as okafor when he has no real nba players to learn from? he and others needs a credible pg who can help them learn about working within a team offense. he cant learn simply by playing without credible teammates.

this deal wasn't about next year. it's about stability and growth this year. the sixers just had a game when their pg's couldn't execute or initiate a simple offensive set and the team produced 26 TO.

all the young players will benefit from this since they finally have someone to at the very least be able to put his teammates in a position to succeed. the players (and the few fans who show up) finally have something to cheer about on the court.

as for wroten, he is awful. there is the distinct chance that he goes unclaimed by the 8 teams eligible to claim him (cap space or TPE) and he is unemployed next week. remember, NO didn't even want him in return for nothing.

the last few years have not produced as advertised for the sixers i think. time to amend plan A for that team, and it is long over due.

[Ilikesports17]

The Sixers do have a ridiculous amount of 1st rounders coming up, so it's not like they're desperate for more picks but this clearly is a sign the Hinkie hyper tank is over.

I went over to Liberty Ballers and what's fascinating is that this trade really illustrates how far gone some of those folks are.  On the one side there are people genuinely excited to have a 27-year-old below average journeyman back on the team because he's one of the better players they've had recently.  On the other side are people outraged they gave up two 2nds because they think those picks could turn into more guys like Richaun Holmes and Christian Wood, players who are fringe rotation pieces at best for a team that is on pace to be the worst in the history of American professional sports.

Mike

Holy cow its like a cult over there. I went over to see for myself and a bunch of posters are legit furuious about this move. There are 471 comments on it.

If they aren’t protected I am going to be furious.

two seconds is a HUGE price

Completely baffling, Hinkie is frustrating me

[wdleehi]

Seems very sixer like.  Think Turner and Hawes trades.

[Moranis]

Seems very sixer like.  Think Turner and Hawes trades.

yep acquire a worse player and cut the better one

[Eddie20]

Seems very sixer like.  Think Turner and Hawes trades.

yep acquire a worse player and cut the better one

Wroten might be more talented going simply off size and athletic ability, but he's not a very good fit with almost amy team because he can't shoot, has low bball IQ, and dominates the ball offensively. Smith is a backup level PG, but at least he does basic positional things well. It's definitely an upgrade, but spending 2 high second rd picks hurts.

Clearly Colangelo is calling the shots now. No way Hinkie let's Smith go in free agency, patiently waits for Wroten to recover off a torn ACL, then essentially gives up one for the other, and spends 2 seconds to boot.

[Evantime34]

I'm surprised that they gave up future assets for a guy who will make them slightly better now.

I feel like they could have gotten a better player for two seconds. Ish Smith has been a minimum salary guy for most of his career. With the Sixers ability to take on salary I thought they would be able to add a better point guard with a higher salary for their two seconds.

That the Sixers are willing to give up assets to get better now, it gives me hope that they would deal Noel for picks and a couple rotation level players.

[ssspence]

Smith > Wroton, no matter how you slice it. First indication that Colangelo's going to start tryin g to build an actual basketball team.

I expect Ainge is all over him about Noel or Okefor, though I don't expect they'd be willing to part with Jalil.

[LilRip]

I don't think it's un-Sixer like. It's not like they gave up major assets anyway in two 2nd rounders and they get another cheap potential. IMO, potential for cheap is all about what the Sixers are trying to find, with rookies and these signings. Unproven guys who could blow up to be something. Anyway, I never really liked Wroten anyway. He strikes me as someone highly inefficient but got some stats because someone had to get stats. Meanwhile, before Tyreke came back, Ish Smith was playing terrific. Now he's collecting DNP's. It's a win for all parties involved. Except Wroten.

[Moranis]

I don't think it's un-Sixer like. It's not like they gave up major assets anyway in two 2nd rounders and they get another cheap potential. IMO, potential for cheap is all about what the Sixers are trying to find, with rookies and these signings. Unproven guys who could blow up to be something. Anyway, I never really liked Wroten anyway. He strikes me as someone highly inefficient but got some stats because someone had to get stats. Meanwhile, before Tyreke came back, Ish Smith was playing terrific. Now he's collecting DNP's. It's a win for all parties involved. Except Wroten.

Wroten.  He is probably the biggest winner.  He will end up on a better team.  Either some one will claim him or he will sign as a free agent.  10 teams can claim him.  They are in order: BKN, POR, MIN, MIL, UTH, WAS, MIA, OKC, CLE, GSW.  Any one of those teams is better than Philly and I would be surprised if at least one of them didn't put a claim in.  Brooklyn stands out as a team that could use a guy on the bench that can get to the line (Wroten for all his faults is a pretty good foul shot generator).  Besides they just need players.

[mctyson]

Seems very sixer like.  Think Turner and Hawes trades.

Ish Smith is quietly having a very good season.  14 pts / 5 reb / 9 asst per 36 with a 17.0 PER.  That's a solid starting NBA point guard for you.

Great move by the Sixers.

[Moranis]

I find it funny that all of a sudden Ish Smith is a "great" player, but last year on the Sixers he was a scrub and was terrible.  Amusing to me.